RESOLUTION CARRIED AS AMENDED

Subject: Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel

Moved by: The Rev. Canon Dr. Richard LeSueur, Diocese of British Columbia

Seconded by: Ms. Cynthia Haines-Turner, Diocese of Western Newfoundland

Be it resolved that this General Synod:

Strengthen its commitment to the pursuit of peace with justice for all in Palestine and Israel, and

1. Reaffirm its existing commitments (GS2010, A184) to solidarity with Anglicans in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East in their work for justice and peace;

2. Reiterate to Canadian Anglicans and to our federal government, the established policy of the Anglican Church of Canada (GS 2010, A184), which

i. recognizes the legitimate aspirations, rights and needs of both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, with dignity within sovereign and secure borders;

ii. condemns the use of violence of all kinds, especially against civilians;

iii. calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories (West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza) ; and

iv. calls upon Israel, as the occupying power, to respect the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the transfer and settlement of its own citizens in the occupied territories.

3.    Commit to act together with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the United Church of Canada other ecumenical partners to:

i. enable deeper church-wide awareness of and response to the call of Kairos Palestine:  A Moment of Truth (2009);

ii. educate the church about the impact of the illegal settlements on the lives of both Palestinians and Israelis, and about imported products identified as produced in or related to the illegal settlements and misleadingly labeled as produced in Israel, and about the complexities of economic advocacy measures;

iii. explore and challenge theologies and beliefs, such as Christian Zionism, which support the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories;

iv. explore and challenge theories and beliefs that deny the right of Israel to exist;

v. and strengthen relationships with Canadian Jews and Muslims, to resolutely oppose anti-Semitism, anti-Arab sentiments and Islamophobia.

Source:

Submitted by:  Partners in Mission and Ecojustice Committee

Does this motion contain within it any financial implications?  Yes  X   No

If yes, has the General Synod Expenditures Committee considered the implications?  Yes       No X

Explanatory Note/Background Information

1. The Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem have been companions in mission for many years – a relationship strengthened by work together on issues of shared concern.  This resolution is intended to examine ongoing realities and issues in new ways and add depth to commitments of partnership in mission and justice.
2. Efforts to reach peace between Palestinians and Israelis have been of central importance in the Canadian churches’ longstanding partnerships with Christian, Muslim and Jewish organizations in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.  In prayer, worship resources, statements, policies and advocacy initiatives, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Anglican Communion, has taken the voice, stories and analysis of the Diocese of Jerusalem as a primary point of reference.
3. A Moment of Truth: Kairos Palestine : A word of faith, hope, and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering (2009)  is a Christian Palestinian word to the world about what is happening in Palestine.  It is a call to the international community, to the international church to stand in solidarity against injustice, to work for a just peace, and to revisit theologies which justify injustices against Palestinian peoples and the dispossession of the land.  In the years since 2009 the suffering of Palestinians and the illegal occupation of Palestinian Territory has deepened.
4. The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, including Anglican Bishop Suheil Dawani, in a letter to their communities and the wider Christian world, wrote:  We hear the cry of hope that our children have launched in these difficult times that we still experience in this Holy Land.  We support them and stand by them in their faith, their hope, their love and their vision for the future.  We also support the call to all our faithful as well as to the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, to the International Community and to the World Churches, in order to accelerate the achievement of justice, peace and reconciliation in this Holy Land.  We ask God to bless all our children by giving them more power in order to contribute effectively in establishing and developing their community, while making it a community of love, trust, justice and peace.
5. The General Synod has been asked by Anglicans in Canada and invited into partnership with the United Church of Canada, and with others to raise awareness and educate church members specifically about the reality of the State of Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestinian Territories, and the impact of these settlements and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land upon Palestinians and Israelis and upon the prospects of peace with justice in Palestine and Israel.
6. The General Synod is committed to mutually respectful relationship with Canadian Jewish, Muslim and Arab groups for deeper learning and solidarity in opposition to anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab sentiments, and for reflection on Christian theology which supports these attitudes and the occupation of Palestine.

PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION (G)

In the normal course, an ordinary motion must be passed by a majority of the Order of Bishops, and by a majority of the Orders of Clergy and Laity voting together.

Six members of General Synod may, prior to the question being put, require a vote by Orders, with a majority of each Order being necessary to pass.

If a question passes on a Vote by Orders, any six members (two from each of three different dioceses) may require a vote to be taken by dioceses.  A motion passes if a majority of dioceses (or a tie) vote in favour.

Source: Section 5 of the Declaration of Principles and sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Rules of Order and Procedure.